THE SCIENCE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' IMAGINE

Abstract

This research explored dream science classrooms of primary school third-and fourth-grade students. Research is designed as a case study. The students were first asked to illustrate their dream science classroom and produce a short description of their drawings. Second, they were asked to write their expectations of their teachers, their classmates, and themselves in their science classes. Three hundred and twelve participants were identified using the convenience sampling method. The research evaluated the students’ drawings and descriptions in the first step, and their expectations in the second step. Students, in their drawings, conveyed the following messages: Experiments (lab works) could be used in science education, and different classroom activities and science courses could be done outside the classroom. In addition, they expected their teachers to have them perform more experiments in the classes, to offer them interesting and intriguing knowledge, to encourage them to conduct research and projects, and ask questions. Their expectations of their classmates to follow the classroom rules, to work in collaboration, to share, and to appreciate them so that they can benefit from science classes more efficiently. They expected themselves to be successful in science classes. Keywords: classroom environment, learning environment, science class, science teaching, student drawings.